NEW YORK (05-Nov) -- In what she hinted might be the final marathon of her career, Shalane Flanagan became the first American to win the TCS New York City Marathon in 40 years with a commanding surge over the final three miles. The men's race featured a similarly strong finish from Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor, who held off a mad dash from countryman Wilson Kipsang to score his first-ever marathon win.

CAUTIOUS START FOR THE WOMEN

The women's field set off 30 minutes prior to the masses, with an extremely cautious tempo. The pack hit the 5-K in 19:12, barely under 2:42 pace, and at halfway (1:16:18) there were still 15 athletes in contention. Three-time defending champion Mary Keitany of Kenya made periodic attempts to force the pace but the pack continuously regrouped, clicking off splits mostly in the 5:35-5:45 per mile range.

It wasn't until the 21st mile, going over the Madison Avenue Bridge crossing from the Bronx into Manhattan, that the race started taking shape. Keitany, Flanagan and Mamitu Daska of Ethiopia pulled away down Fifth Avenue, quickly gapping Kenyan Edna Kiplagat and American Kellyn Taylor.

The lead trio ran the 22nd mile in 5:09 before Flanagan started her hard drive to the finish. As they entered Central Park in the 23rd mile, the gap continued to grow and it was apparent that Keitany did not have the spark in her legs that brought her a women's only world record of 2:17:01 in London this past April. Flanagan covered the segment from 35K to 40K in a blistering 15:57 and cruised home waving her fists to the crowd (and letting out an apparent jubilant expletive). She crossed the line in 2:26:53 with tears in her eyes.

The last American woman to top the podium in New York was the late Miki Gorman, back in 1977. Flanagan also became the first American woman to win an Abbott World Marathon Majors race since 2006 when Deena Kastor finished first in London.

Keitany came across second in 2:27:54, with Daska (2:28:08) holding on for the third podium spot. The U.S. had three more athletes in the Top 10, with Allie Kieffer (2:29:39 PB), Taylor (2:29:56) and Stephanie Bruce (2:31:44) placing 5th, 8th and 10th, respectively. Kieffer's breakthrough performance was a remarkable improvement on her PR 2:44:44, run indoors on a 200-meter track at New York City's Armory in 2016.

Persistence, patience, and then at long last the ultimate prize – after decorated careers at the highest level, Shalane Flanagan and Geoffrey Kamworor enjoyed their day of days at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday (5), taking victory in 2:26:53 and 2:10:53 respectively in this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Shura Kitata Tola of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Vivian Cheryuiot won the top prizes at the 36th edition of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Kitata chopped almost two minutes off his personal best in difficult conditions while Cheruiyot, the reigning Olympic 5,000m champion but now concentrating on road racing, improved her best for the marathon to 2:23:35 after her distance debut in London this April. Kitata ran 2:05:50 to win the men's title and his compatriots Kelkile Gezahegn (2:06:56) and Getu Feleke (2:07:46) ensured a clean sweep for Ethiopia. The Ethiopians Yebrgual Melese (2:24:30) and Meskerem Assefa (2:24:38) finished second and third behind Cheruiyot in the women's race. The women's champion had been on course to improve the course record of 2:21:01 but was slowed by strong winds in the closing stages.

The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon has been a springboard for a number of promising marathon runners in the past. The most prominent example is Wilson Kipsang, who won in Frankfurt with 2:04:57 in 2010 and then returned a year later, missing the world record by only four seconds and his time 2:03:42 remains the course record to this day. Two years later Kipsang broke the world record in Berlin. Back in 2008 Robert K. Cheruiyot came to Frankfurt to run his first race outside Kenya. He broke the course record with 2:07:21 and then won the Boston Marathon with a course record of 2:05:52 in 2010. “The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an immersion heater for elite athletes,” said Race Director Jo Schindler during a press conference before the 36th edition on Sunday.

Vivian Cheruiyot is ready to run fast in Sunday’s Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. „I am grateful to have been invited to run my second marathon in Frankfurt,“ said the reigning 5,000 m Olympic Champion during a press conference in Frankfurt on Thursday. „I have prepared for this race for three months and my shape is the same as it was before my debut in London in April. My aim is to run a personal best. I know that this is a fast course and I believe that Frankfurt provided the best opportunity for me this autumn. I go into the race with a good feeling.“ When she ran her debut in London Vivian Cheruiyot placed fourth with 2:23:50.

Ethiopian Abdulahl Dawud and defending champion Priscah Jepleting Cherono are the favourites at the 32nd edition of the Huawei Venice Marathon, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, which starts from Villa Pisani in Stra and ends at the Riva dei Sette Martiri in Venice, on Sunday (22).

Getu Feleke is top of the charts in build-up for Frankfurt - Getu Feleke is the man with the fastest credentials going into the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon on October 29. The 30-year-old Ethiopian has a highly impressive best of 2:04:50 and also ran a superb course record of 2:05:41 in the 2014 Vienna City Marathon. His compatriot Feyse Tadese is the fastest starter in the women’s field with the world class time of 2:20:27. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon has been adding to its elite field in recent weeks and the full field has now been announced. In total the organizers expect around 14,500 participants for this IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

* Approximately $1.2 million AND COUNTING was raised for Nationwide Children's Hospital during the 2017 event; for a total of approximately $7 million raised since the partnership with the event started in 2012;

* Last year’s female ½ marathon winner, Susan Jerotich, had a repeat win, but in the full marathon

* A field of approximately 18,000 participated from 47 different states and several countries

* 24 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champions and their families were along 24 miles; one mile was the Angel Mile and was dedicated to the angels of Nationwide Children’s who have already run their race; and one mile was the Encore Mile for the more than 100 Patient Champions from previous races.

Galen Rupp wanted to be "invisible" in the race until after 22 miles. "And in the last four miles, you know, anything can happen."

And it did.

Between 35 kilometers and 40 kilometers, Galen Rupp took the field apart. The early pace was modest, as the field hit the half marathon in 1:06:11. The men just spent too much time watching each other and not enough trying to break the key players. Galen Rupp purposely did not lead early in the race. His attitude was as if this were a championship event, and for Galen Rupp, winning a World Marathon Major event was, and is a championship event.

Lots can go wrong over 26.2 miles. If one prepares with precision, then, one cuts down the number of things that can go wrong. Galen Rupp told us about a 25 mile run where he ran the first 20 at good pace and the final five at 4:30 per mile pace. "That gave me great confidence," noted Galen Rupp in the post race conference.

The 35th kilometer was run in 2:50, and the field of ten dropped to four, with Rupp, Lemma, Sambu and Kirui. Then, the race got intense. It was beautiful to watch.

As Abel Kirui, two time World champion, defending Chicago Champ, tried to control the race, Galen Rupp felt his opportunity. A 4:31 mile was followed by a 4:30 mile, which had been preceeded by a 4:36 mile. That 5k of 14:25 was the fastest in history on the course.

Galen Rupp ran his fastest kilometer, between 40-41 kilometers, with a blistering 2:38, and he ran to his first marathon win!

Galen Rupp was the first American male to win the Chicago Marathon since 2002! He has also won his first World Marathon Major in a exciting finish!

Now, it's off to the Field Museum for the Rupp family to check out some dinosaur bones.

The 2:20:57 run by Jordan Hasay in Chicago on Sunday, October 8, 2017 was historic. Jordan Hasay ran 2:23:00 in her marathon debut and shocked many. Truth is this, Jordan Hasay was made for the marathon, and Alberto Salzar knew that. Jordan Hasay is one of the guttiest runners I have ever seen, and she does not give an inch. In college racing she had great races and not so great races. She was not a happy camper when she did not do well, but that is okay.

As a professional athlete, Jordan raced over 5k and 10k, and she battled in every race. In 2016, she began her evolution into road running, but one wonders if that was Alberto Salazar's plan for the entire time.

In Houston in January 2017, Jordan ran 1:08:45 and opened many eyes. Her build up to Boston continued and her run there was flawless. I was happy to see her focus at the end of the race, against the world's best, and her gutty finish. And then, her summer of training prior to Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Jordan Hasay is one of the kindest athletes to interview. She thanks media for their support of her story. She speaks well and thoughtfully.

But remember this, Jordan Hasay is a marathon gladiator. In the fine line of Joan Benoit Samuelson, Deena Kastor, Kara Goucher, Tirunesh Dibaba, Mary Keitany and Edna Kiplagat, these women dig in and fight for each and every meter. I recall running the 1980 Cascade Run Off, and getting absolutely dusted over the last 3k by Lorraine Moller, who gave the guys with her a lesson in downhill running, cranking 5:08 and 5:05. It opened my mind to just how amazing women distance runners were and are.

Jordan Hasay showed guts running 2:18:20 pace through half way, with Tirunesh Dibaba, who is moving her focus from the track the roads, in the lead. Jordan ran 2:20:57, the finest time by an American woman ever in North America, and breaking Joan Benoit Samuelson's 1985 American course record of 2:21:21.

What is Jordan Hasay's secret? Her amazing focus, her beliefs in herself? her support structure?

Jordan's Instagram account shows the detailed workouts that Jordan and Galen [Rupp] did for this race. That attention to detail, the core work, the long runs, the long temp runs, the work on the track all summer long gives these athletes a quiet confidence that they have done EVERYTHING to prepare for the race.

Professional athlete field to include 12 past champions, 22 Olympians, and 20 Paralympians from 29 different countries - New York, October 10, 2017— Former champion Wilson Kipsang of Kenya and two-time runner-up Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia, who trains in the Bronx, have been added to the professional athlete field for the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 5.

Tatyana McFadden sets course record to capture her eighth victory and the “Silver Bullet” Marcel Hug defends his title - CHICAGO -- In today’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon, more than 43,000* runners, an event record, crossed the finish line in Chicago’s “front yard,” Grant Park. This year’s race celebrated 40 years of running history with participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states. The inaugural Chicago Marathon started in Daley Plaza on September 25, 1977.

The morning after winning the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON for the second time in three years, Eliud Kipchoge was in reflective mood. Looking back on Sunday’s race which produced more than its fair share of surprises, he offered his assessment on the upsets provided by the event’s 44thedition: “Planning to run a marathon is like life, anything can happen. You can run fast today and tomorrow you run slow.”